Agency identifies some savings, seeks exemption from other budget reductions




Like all state agencies, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice was required to submit options for budget reductions totaling 5 percent in the current biennial budget. But according to Executive Director Brad Livingston, TDCJ employees should not assume all the possible cuts in spending identified in the agency's February 15 response will be implemented.

"I don't want to suggest that I know what decisions the state's leadership will ultimately make regarding the budget, because I don't," said Livingston. "But at the same time I want to emphasize the process of reviewing the impact of various reductions is just beginning, and that elected officials understand our staff and our programs make vital contributions to public safety."

The agency's response identified budget options totaling $293.4 million, of which $50.4 million could be achieved by means that would have a more limited impact on direct services, such as utilizing unexpended balances from various sources, a hiring freeze (excluding correctional and parole staff) and the deferral of many capital expenditures.

"Certainly, hiring freezes on many positions and reductions in capital expenditures for important needs like vehicle replacement impact the agency," Livingston said. "And unexpended balances from one source may ultimately be needed to offset rising costs in other areas such as utilities, but their impact differs greatly from those items for which we are seeking exemptions."

TDCJ is requesting an exemption from the remainder of the options identified in the agency's February 15 response to the state leadership because they would significantly impact direct services and public safety. Implementation of these
options would require eliminating positions and reducing funding for treatment and diversion programs.

Livingston emphasized that any rumors or speculation about a reduction-in-force or similar measures being imminent were just that, rumors and speculation.

"At this point in time no decisions have been made, so I urge staff not to overreact to media reports or the rumor mill," Livingston said. "I can't make any guarantees, but I don't believe we will see budget reductions totaling 5 percent. All that's happened so far is the leadership requested information regarding a 5 percent reduction, and we have responded."

A copy of the agency's response is available on the TDCJ website.

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After Backgate investigation, Region III  TDCJ contraband issues grab the attention of the Houston Chronicle and Senator John Whitmire.

   Senator John Whitmire responds to the story and  says :" The February contraband cases show that recent security improvements at state lockups haven't made prisons secure enough." " These issues need to be corrected as soon as possible." as it relates to trusty camp offenders.



         Senator John Whitmire

By Allan Turner, Houston Chronicle
03/09/10 Via the Backgate Website , Duane Stuart


Days after a Texas prison trusty sneaked into a Sugar Land Walmart to buy cigarettes, contraband-sniffing dogs outside Beaumont's Stiles Unit pinpointed a cache of tobacco, 19 cell phones and 18 phone chargers hidden behind a prison food barn. Both cases came on the heels of the discovery of 200 packages of forbidden tobacco and 4 gallons of booze stashed outside the fences of Brazoria County's Darrington Unit. To Texas Sen. John Whitmire, chairman of the Senate's criminal justice committee, the February contraband cases show that recent security improvements at state lockups haven't made prisons ..

See the whole story here....

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Texas Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Bill White wants to address TDCJ employees in our forum

By Doug Glass, Backgate Website
03/09/10

Newly selected democratic nominee for Texas Governor  Bill White has expressed  his desire to address  issues within the TDCJ and the Texas criminal justice system with the Backgate Website. We will be conducting a sit down interview with White in the coming weeks. If you would like to submit a question regarding issues within the TDCJ, or Texas criminal justice system for the former Houston mayor to address, please email them to us here at admin@thebackgate.org for submission to Mr. White.

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MGT of America's official audit of the Estelle unit Comeaux escape incident now available

The Backgate has received a copy of the full 38-page report detailing security lapses and other contributors to the recent Arcade Comeaux escape that occurred some months back. The audit was ordered by the TBCJ and TDCJ to find out what issues led up the escape.  If you would like to have your own printable copy of the report, email us at admin@thebackgate.org to receive the document in PDF format. Due to space limitations, we will not post the document here.

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TDCJ Guard accused in Rosenberg killing arrested in N.C.

By DALE LEZON
HOUSTON CHRONCLE

March 5, 2010, 5:40PM

Prison guard Albert James Turner, accused of killing his wife and mother-in-law in Rosenberg, was captured on Friday in Concord, N.C., the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Authorities said few details of the arrest were available. Turner was taken into custody around 12:45 p.m. Houston time.

Turner is......

See the full story here  !

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Just how trusty are TDCJ's trusty's anyway ?



By Doug Glass, Backgate Website
03/04/10

    In the wake of a Region III Central unit trusty offender walking to a local Wal-Mart to shop for tobacco, which by the way is illegal inside of a prison, TDCJ leaders and the citizens of Texas are scratching their collective heads asking how could that have happened. Truth is, it's been happening for years but has seldom been seen by the general public.

On any given TDCJ trusty camp, it's just after dark, the heat glistens off of the surrounding plowed rows being prepared for planting. In the distance, you see what appears to a shadowy figure moving against the back drop of the setting sun. Most likely what you have witnessed is a TDCJ trusty camp offender running at full speed either to or from a Texas major highway picking up a stash of goodies that would rival anything Santa may drop off at Christmas. It's big business at work within the walls of the Texas prison system, and it's only getting more serious and more dangerous.

Accounts have come in and been verified from all over the state that tell the tale of trusty camp offenders, who are housed outside of the main compound and allowed more freedom, waiting along major highways  for a drop more than likely called in by using one of  many cell phones floating around those camps. And by the way, cell phones are illegal to possess and may bring felony charges for offenders.  But that seldom stops the steady flow of them from entering the facilities.  I-pods,tobacco products, marijuana, pills, clothes, video games, compact disk players, fast food items, and anything else you may have access to in the " freeworld" have all made their way inside of the secured compound.

Staffing issues at most TDCJ facilities has dictated that only three Officers and a supervisor be utilized at most trusty camps. "Utility Officers are a thing of the past," said one Correctional Officer we spoke to in TDCJ's Region II.  Approximately 90% of TDCJ's trusty camps are unfenced. Making it easy for offenders to wander off in the middle of the night. Trusty camps are comprised in most cases by three equal sized dorms that hold a maximum of 127 offenders each. All activities involving those offenders are outside of those dorms, under little or no supervision by staff.

A push for fencing these compounds by individual unit Wardens and Regional Directors have fallen on deaf ears in Huntsville due to budgetary issues. But when TDCJ makes its own fencing, and offender labor is free, what could be the issue ?  TDCJ trusty's are used to operate the agencies tractor fleet to plow fields, harvest crops, and mow prison property. They also raise equine, build fences, work on prison buses, and do many other Jobs. The agency says it  has provided these jobs for decades and saves millions a year doing so by using offender labor. Many say that without trusty labor, the agency would lose several million per year in real dollars.

At what point however does safety and intelligence prevail ? Correctional Officers have been routinely assaulted after discovering contraband items on trusty offenders. And the costs associated with taxpayer trust in an agency that cannot assure that the public can shop at a retail store without fear of being in the check out line with a convicted felon on a field trip. So where will it end ? Hopefully not after a Correctional Officer is killed, or the general public is threatened as they walk down the street a mile away from a prison trusty camp.

Until the Texas legislature, TBCJ, and the powers that be in Huntsville make this a safety and security based priority, it will surely only get worse, and end in a media firestorm that again catches TDCJ with it's pants around it's ankles.


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U.S. Dept. of Labor to TDCJ : Pay your employees for the time lost waiting to be searched !



By Duane Stuart, Backgate Website
03/02/10

In a move that will sure to make waves within the Huntsville BOT building, the United States Department of Labor has said that TDCJ is responsible for paying TDCJ employees for time they spend in long search lines as they wait to enter state prisons.  The word came just weeks after the Backgate website initiated a story on employees of the TDCJ Middleton unit prison in Abilene.

The DOL ruled that time spent by TDCJ employees during employer mandated searches is "on the books time" and should be compensated for if outside of the employees regular scheduled work hours.

Those employees were ordered to arrive at work up to 45 minutes early each day so they may be searched before entering the prison. A move that infuriated employees who were not being paid, or offered time for their wait.  On behalf of those employees, the Backgate contacted state senator John Whitmire, who immediately outlined changes in the way that TDCJ conducts it's employee searches and their frequency. Those changes were forwarded to Governor Rick Perry, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, and TDCJ administrators.

The Backgate also assisted Abilene television station KTAB in preparation of their story that was aired regarding the issues at the Abilene prison. Involved employees recently got word that a Houston attorney would be representing them for possible pending litigation based on the incidents that occurred on the Middleton unit.  That attorney, Bob Debes would not comment on any pending action on behalf of the TDCJ employees involved.

The U.S. Dept. of Labor is asking that if any employees have complaints about non-paid time during TDCJ search procedures to call them at their Dallas office at : 817-861-2150


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TDCJ trusty camps to be reviewed as a whole after TDCJ Central unit offender made a trip to a local Wal-Mart for tobacco.



UPDATE: 03/05/10

TDCJ authorities and OIG  have disclosed that the offender in question did not leave the facility 70 times as first reported. The Austin Amercan Statesman newspaper first reported that number of trips stating that they got the information from TDCJ. That was the information used in this story. That information was false. The offender can only be placed at the store once.

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By Tonya Peters, Backgate Website
03/02/10

19 -yr old Skylar Steddum has been a regular customer of the Sugarland Wal-Mart Supercenter located just off of Hwy 90, as a matter of fact  he had been there at least 70 times to buy tobacco products over the past few months.  Problem is, Steddum is a current TDCJ offender assigned to the Central unit trusty camp approximately a mile and a half away from that Wal-Mart.

Agency officials are investigating just how the 19-yr old serving 4-yrs for car theft and burglary out of Nueces county made it the long distance that covers major highways and plowed fields without being detected by Central unit staff members, or the general public. Sugarland residents interviewed expressed anger and shock after they were advised that they may have been waiting in the express lane next to an incarcerated convicted felon.

Wal-Mart security cameras were being reviewed as part of the investigation stated John Moriarty, TDCJ OIG chief. Investigators claim that Steddum dyed a set of his prison whites tan using coffee to escape the look of being in prison garb. Steddum may have still been making his daily trips to the Wal-Mart if not for information supplied by another offender at that same location.

TDCJ OIG are also investigating how security staff could have missed the offender as he was doing his shopping. State Senator John Whitmire, who oversees the states criminal justice committee released this statement to the Backgate along with the Austin American Statesman regarding the incident.

Whitmire:

"For a system that's had cell phones on death row, that had a loaded pistol turn up in a maximum-security unit and was used in an escape, that has contraband problems that continue despite what we're told are security improvements, now we have a convict going on a shopping trip without anyone even knowing he was gone," said state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, the chairman of the committee that supervises the state prison system and the senator who received the call from death row.

"It might be funny if it weren't so absurd. People shopping at a Walmart shouldn't have to worry that the person standing next to them in line is supposed to be in a prison.

"And the fact that Walmart has better security cameras than our prisons, well, this whole situation begs a whole lot of questions.

"People need to be held accountable for these security lapses that just keep happening."

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Huntsville PD/ TDCJ OIG investigating yet another criminal act at the TDCJ human resources headquarters


  (Backgate Staff Photo)

EEO headquarters may have it's own EEO troubles brewing


By Max Rodriguez, Backgate Website
02/27/10

Employees assigned to the Huntsville human resources headquarters have seen there fair share of visiting police officers over the past few months, and  Wednesday February 24th brought even more to the building.  Someone  on the inside  set three fires within a short period of time Wednesday sources say.  A  large trash can full of paper in the women's restroom was the first target, and then a short time later, two other similar fires broke out. One was located in a supervisor's office within the building. There was no major damage to report after the incidents and it was unclear if local firefighters responded. There were also no official media reports posted on the latest incident as of  story post time tonight.

Just months ago the Huntsville police department, along with TDCJ OIG officers investigated several painted death threats scribed on the inside walls of the building directed at certain TDCJ human resource employees. No suspects were ever identified or charged in that case. The latest case has been confirmed to now be under investigation and Huntsville police along with TDCJ OIG are soliciting information as to who the suspect, or suspects may be.

One employee source inside  stated " it's clear that  we have an employee or employees here in the building that are trying to make a statement. We just hope it doesn't end with someone getting hurt before it stops."  Insiders point to ongoing rifts between management and lower level employees in the building as to a possible reason for the latest acts. Some employees on the inside there state that EEO issues and retaliation run rampant within the department. TDCJ had no current official complaints to provide us regarding those employee allegations.

As the investigation continues into the incident, we will update this story as needed. If you have any information regarding the incident you are encouraged to contact :

TDCJ Crime Stoppers at ;

                                                   1-800-832-8477



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New TDCJ history and information page coming online soon !

02/27/10
Backgate Staff

The Backgate website has started a new  TDCJ history and information page for this site. If you have old TDCJ pictures or would like to submit a TDCJ related story from at least 15 years ago, we will post them here. Picture scans via email are acceptable. You may view the progress of the page by following the site link in the menu.

Thanks !



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Report to Backgate website shows that TDCJ now only 512 Correctional Officers short ???



By Duane Stuart, Backgate Website
02/17/10

  In a report obtained from the Texas Board of Criminal Justice  that met just days ago to discuss the current situation within the agency, TDCJ leaders claim the agencies situation is now brighter. Brad Livingston, TDCJ's executive director, stated that just a year ago the agency had nearly 4,000 vacant Correctional Officer positions open. Now he states there are only 512 open.  The reasoning behind the jump in applicants was blamed on the current  slump in the economy and the accompanying layoffs in many other fields.

 This situation has prompted agency leaders to institute new hiring standards for incoming correctional staff that will center around physical fitness. Soon applicants must be able to run a specified distance within a  time limit, and complete other physical fitness standards before even being offered employment. Those employees then must re-qualify on a yearly basis to retain that employment.

  Although Correctional Officer numbers are looking good on paper, many TDCJ facilities  statewide are still mandating staff to work overtime, canceling days off, and even cutting back on some internal facility movement due to the lack of staffing. The TDCJ staffing plan that was unveiled statewide almost a year ago took Correctional Officer slots off of unit rosters in most cases. It made it appear that there were enough staff on duty, when in fact it actually meant changing the required numbers to reflect that less were needed to do the same work done previously. A smoke and mirrors act if you will that has not only made it harder to run those facilities, but also created a dangerous situation for staff members who must bear the burden of  those vacant positions.



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TDCJ could lose 3,100 Correctional Officers in plan to reduce agency budget by 5%


02/16/10

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

The jobs of nearly 3,100 prison guards, parole officers and other state corrections employees would be eliminated as part of a proposed budget-cutting plan unveiled Tuesday that includes closing some privately run prisons and cutbacks in treatment and rehabilitation programs and medical care.

Brad Livingston, executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, warned that the $294.3 million in cuts requested by state leaders "will likely increase recidivism, cause significant growth in the prison population ... negatively impact both supervision in the community and security within our institutions." He said cuts of more than $50.4 million could disrupt operations.......

See full story here !

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TDCJ up in arms over the Backgate website's Middleton unit shakedown, uncompensated overtime story





By Duane Stuart, Backgate Website
02/11/10

After the Backgate Website became involved in what many employees are calling a routine occurrence, TDCJ is now up in arms defending it's current policy on paying for employee time, and how some employees are treated. Middleton unit wardens, and even officials from the TDCJ regional office that included the Middleton unit are defending the current practices.

The Backgate contacted state Senator John Whitmire who quickly put out a written statement regarding employee treatment at shakedown areas, and the lack of coordination in TDCJ search procedures on TDCJ facilities. Whitmire, who heads the criminal justice committee that oversees TDCJ, has said he wants to see the mandatory searches turn into random searches that do not cover every day of the week. The Backgate has been receiving emails from employees all over the state in recent months detailing how they are ordered to show up for work up to an hour early everyday just to make it through the unit search procedures. A system that has many employees crying foul over the lack of compensation or employee time accumulation in return for the mandatory wait.

Abilene news television station KTAB and reporter Katherine Lane have become involved in the Middleton story and even ran a story on the plight of over 90 Middleton unit correctional employees who have signed a petition to change the way TDCJ conducts it's employee searches there. The petition claims that employees at the Middleton facility in Abilene are frequently made to wait in long search lines in front of the unit waiting to be searched in freezing, rainy or extremely hot weather. An act that employees say that TDCJ won't even submit it's offender population to.

Employees have obtained the help of the the department of labor who is currently actively investigating the allegations made at Middleton, and the outcome could affect TDCJ facilities all over the state. An attorney has also become involved and is said to be currently preparing to act on the behalf of several employees in coming weeks. The Backgate is seeking information from that attorney and we hope to supply an official statement from him at some point this week. The bottom line is that TDCJ, as a professional agency should learn to put it's employees first. Although the agency has it's bad apples, the majority of employees that risk their lives on a daily basis are good strong professional employees who strive to make a difference. The agency needs to do all it can to keep the good ones while weeding out the bad.

Come on TDCJ, lets do the right thing this time without having to lose millions in Texas tax dollars on lawsuits to get there !

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